Greater Snow is not only the 21st solar term in the 24 solar terms, but also the third solar term in winter. The date of Greater Snow is generally on December 6-8 in the Gregorian calendar every year. Greater Snow marks the official start of the midwinter season, which is characterized by a marked drop in temperature and an increase in precipitation. The Yuan Dynasty writer, Wu Cheng said: "From now on, the snow will be heavier and heavier." Greater Snow means that the weather is colder and the it is more likely to snow than during the minor snow term, while it does not mean that the amount of snow is necessarily large.
大雪，是二十四节气中的第二十一个节气，也是冬季的第三个节气，时间一般为每年公历12月6-8日。大雪标志着仲冬时节正式开始，节气的特点是气温显著下降、降水量增多。元吴澄说：“至此而雪盛也。”大雪的意思是天气更冷，降雪的可能性比小雪节气时更大了，并不指降雪量一定很大。
Ancient
Chinese
concluded three kinds of climatic phenomenon from the Greater Snow
:
first, the cold howling birds
stop
sing
ing;
second
,
the tigers begin to mate;
th
ird, the
“
Li
”
starts to burgeon
.
It
means
that
the
cold
birds
no
longer
sing
because
of
the
cold
weather.
A
t
this
time,
yinqi achieved a kind of apogee. Just as the old saying goes
,
everything will decline right after flourish, now yangqi
has
germinated
and
the
tiger
began
to
have
courtship
behavior;
"Li"
stands
for
Malan
grass
,
namely Malan flower.
I
t
is
said
that
Malan flower
can
also
feel
the
germination
of
y
ang
qi
and
pull
out
new
buds.
中国古人将大雪分为三候：一候鹖鴠不鸣，二候虎始交，三候荔挺出。是说此时因天气寒冷，寒号鸟也不再鸣叫了；此时是阴气最盛，所谓盛极而衰，阳气已有所萌动，老虎开始有求偶行为；“荔”为马兰草，即马兰花，据说也能感受到阳气的萌动而抽出新芽。
Light snow closes the mountains, Greater Snow closes the river. From the Light snow to the Greater Snow, the amount of snowfall keeps increasing. Generally speaking, during this time, more snow is better better, as the snow plays a key role in the accumulation of surface moisture for the coming year. First, snow can not only preserve insulation and moisture for winter wheat but also prevent them from dry winter wind; second, it can store water for next year's cultivation; third, it can kill some eggs on the surface of the soil, helping reduce pests and diseases after the winter turns green. However too much snow will also have an adverse impact on some facility agriculture, so farming activities still can not relax.
小雪封山，大雪封河，从小雪节气到大雪节气雪量不断加大。这时的雪一般来讲下得越多越好，对于来年地表水分的积蓄起到关键性作用。积雪，一可以给冬小麦保温保湿，防止冬季干燥吹风；二可以储存来年生长所需的水分；三能冻死土壤表面的一些虫卵，减少小麦返青后的病虫害。但雪量太大，也会对一些设施农业产生不利影响，所以一些农事活动仍不能松懈。
Pickling meat, having snowball fights, admiring snow scenery and eating tonic food are all the customs of Greater Snow. When the Greater Snow comes, every household is busy pickling food. Add salt, star anise, cinnamon, Chinese prickly ash, white sugar, etc. into the pan and fry until they are done. After the fried Chinese prickly ash salt has cooled down, smear it on the fish and meat, then rub it repeatedly until the color of the meat changes from fresh to dark. When there is liquid oozing from the surface, put the meat with the remaining salt into the tank, press it with a stone, place it in a cool and backlit place. Take it out half a month later, put the marinated brine into the pan, add water, boil it, skim the foam, and put the dried poultry meat into the pot. Stack the meat layer by layer in the vat, pour it with brine and press it with large stones again. Take it out ten days later and hung it under the eaves facing south to dry it in order to welcome the New Year.
腌肉、打雪仗、赏雪景、进补都是大雪节气的民俗。大雪节气一到，家家户户忙着腌制咸货。将盐加八角、桂皮、花椒、白糖等入锅炒熟，待炒过的花椒盐凉透后，涂抹在鱼、肉内外，反复揉搓，直到肉色由鲜转暗，表面有液体渗出时，再把肉连剩下的盐放进缸内，用石头压住，放在阴凉背光的地方，半月后取出，将腌出的卤汁入锅加水烧开，撇去浮沫，放入晾干的禽畜肉，一层层码在缸内，倒入盐卤，再压上大石头，十日后取出，挂在朝阳的屋檐下晾晒干，以迎接新年。
The weather is getting colder and colder, but the steaming life is never far away from us., Walking through the streets, listening to the hawker's voice and feeling the smell of the real world, I only feel warm in heart, where endless hope and love are rising. Whether the snow outside the window or the warmth around us, they both the best gifts that life gives us. There are much happiness and emotion hidden in the ordinary details. Sing against the wind, walk on the snow, accumulate your inner strength in silence, and go forward bravely and firmly!
天气变得越来越寒冷，但热气腾腾的生活，从未离我们远去。穿梭在街道间，听着小贩的声声叫卖，感受着人间烟火味，只觉得一股暖意涌上心头，升腾起无尽的希望与热爱。不管是窗外的大雪，还是身边的温暖，皆是生活给予我们最好的馈赠，平凡的细碎里，藏着许许多多的幸福与感动。迎风而歌，踏雪而行，在沉静中积蓄内心的力量，勇敢坚定地继续携手向前吧！
Author: Wang Ruoxi
Date: December 2, 2022
